On May 31st the US TV Channel CBS sees Elite Xtreme Combat: CBS Saturday Night Fights become the first live MMA broadcast on network TV, and will also feature the welcome return of female MMA star Gina Carano against up and comer Kaitlin Young.
After just three fights in Carano's pro MMA career, EliteXC and veteran boxing promoter Gary Shaw set up a meeting.
"When I met her, I said to her immediately, ‘you're going to be the women's face of mixed martial arts," he recalls.
One of the other major differences between EliteXC and its competitors, is the inclusion of a women's division.
"It's been my feeling all along that women should be treated as equals, If they can go to war, they sure can fight in mixed martial arts. We're proud to have Gina on this card. We're proud to have Kaitlin. It's going to be a very good, very tough match. But more than anything else, the world will be able to see two professional athletes that can really fight."
Carano, who fights out of the Xtreme Couture gym and is trained by UFC hall of famer Randy "The Natural" Couture, fought in the first ever sanctioned womens match in Nevada, beating Rosi Sexton via TKO in 2006. Carano also won at EliteXC's first outting, defeating the tough Julie Kedzie via unanimous decision.
The first primetime event will also feature controversial internet star Kevin "Kimbo Slice" Ferguson as he takes on James "The Colossus" Thompson. Ferguson is coming off the 43 second KO of David "Tank" Abbott, while Thompson will be hoping to break out of his current 2-fight losing streak.